Today’s POTD ties in with the previous post about the 100th anniversary of the first tank trials at Hatfield Park in 1916. This photo comes from the book “Eye Witness” by Ernest Dunlop Swinton. We found the image at this website. For those interested in checking out “Eye Witness” by Swinton, the book is available for viewing online at the Hathi Trust Digital Library site.

The BBC is running a story about a historic exhibition at the Hatfield House in Hertfordshire UK. In early 1916 a Mark I tank was trialled at the grounds of the Hatfield House in front of military personnel, politicians and King George V. These trials are considered the first tank trails in the UK. At the end of WWI, the 4th Marquess, owner of Hatfield House, was presented with a Mark I tank used in the trials. In 1969 the tank was given to the Tank Museum in Bovington. To mark the 100th anniversary of the first tank trials at Hatfield, a replica Mark IV tank owned by Mac and William McCullagh has been loaned the Hatfield estate where it will be on display. The exhibition at Hatfield House will run to 30 September 2016. The replica Mark IV is named “Edwin B14” after a relative of the owners who died at the Battle of Messine Ride in June 1917. In 2014 this replica tank was placed on top of the Vanguard Holdings Ltd building in Greenford to mark the 100 anniversary of the start of WWI.

Jane’s is reporting that the IDF is taking delivery of Urdan Backtrail logistics trailers that can be towed by tanks, APCs, and other heavy AFVs. The trailers have a cargo area measuring 4×2 meters and can carry approximately two tons. According to the article, Urdan says the Backtrail was “developed in response to the critical logistic requirements of the modern battlefield. It enables the continuous provision of supplies – including fuel, water, weapons, etc – to forces fighting in remote and inaccessible locations.” Urdan developed the trailer over a four year period starting in 2008, which included driving Backtrail models around the Golan Heights and southern Israel. The trailer received IDF approval to begin mass production and deliveries in 2014. The article notes that the trailer can be towed by the Merkava tank , the Namer and Achzarit heavy APCs, and the Puma armored engineering vehicle, but is too heavy for the M113 APC

Here is an article from the July-Sept 1958 issues of INFANTRY magazine titled “A New Lift for the Infantryman” by Lt Col Edward H. Simpson. This article is about the T-113 armored personnel carrier, which was the prototype for the famous M113 APC. The article gives a pretty good impression of what the Army was expecting out of their new APC, primarily low weight, low cost and better maneuverability. Interestingly, the author states that the T-113 has been given the unofficial nickname of “The Kangaroo” and refers to it as such several times in the piece. It’s worth pointing out that the M113 never received an official nickname.